Several dominant tree species are at risk of decling by the end of the century, including red spruce and balsam fir.

Submitted by Maria on

Multiple forest impact models tend to agree that several species are more likely to decline in suitable habitat and biomass across a range of climate scenarios by the end of the century, including red spruce and balsam fir. These are northern species near their southern range limits in New England and northern New York. Eastern hemlock, quaking aspen, yellow birch, and to a lesser extent, sugar maple, have substantial projected declines in habitat suitability and biomass under a hotter and drier climate scenario, suggesting that greater changes in climate will lead to more-negative consequences. Impacts from climate change are projected to be less severe in the northern part of the assessment area, allowing the dominant species to persist in some areas.